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IFSEC 2017 Exclusive Preview

Abloy UK on CLIQ Connect, sustainability, and the benefits of electric locks. IFSEC International is launching Borders & Infrastructure Expo for its 2017 edition.

Borders & Infrastructure Expo will take place between 20-22 June 2017 as part of IFSEC International and the wider Protection & Management Series.

Abloy UK, which provides high quality electric and mechanical security locking solutions, is focusing on borders and critical infrastructure this year, Abloy UK’s Head of CNI, Steve Wintle, told IFSEC Global in an interview you can read below.

IFSEC Global: What’s your priority at IFSEC?

Steve Wintle: The focus this year is on borders and infrastructure. That’s an area that Abloy are very focused on, especially with CLIQ Connect and how it’s evolving. CLIQ offers benefits not just from a security and health and safety point of view but also delivers operational efficiencies.

IG: What kind of customers will you be looking to meet at the event?

SW: I’m hoping that we’re going to meet people from all national infrastructure sectors. We’re involved across all sectors, but our focus is on national infrastructure.

We have quite good relationships in some sectors, not quite as good in others. And therefore we’re definitely looking to broaden our relationships or opportunities across all CNI sectors.

Steve Wintle

IG: What is so special about CLIQ?

SW: It is becoming a recognised solution for infrastructure. On the back of that we are continuing to develop and add more features to CLIQ.

One recent addition is mapping. Through integration with permit to work systems we’ve got examples of where we’ve used it with infrastructure.

It’s providing greater control and tightening up not just from a security point of view but from a health and safety one too. You’re able to ensure that whoever is working on a certain plant or within certain areas are compliant and trained to be working on that kind of equipment or within those areas.

IG: And what about the people who install or integrate the systems? How do you work with them?

SW: We have a network of approved installers. They’ve been through training, and because of their geographical locations, are able to provide day to day technical support whether it be for electro-mechanical or mechanical systems.

So we have a well-established network of installers and distributors who are able to work with and support the end user on a local basis.

IG: How important is sustainability? Is this something you’re striving to improve?

SW: Absolutely. It’s something we’re getting asked about constantly.

Whenever we’re tendering for contracts, especially within infrastructure, part of the prequalification is often questions on how we manage the environment or risk to environment, sustainability of raw material, resources, and use of natural resources or power or water.

So the Abloy Group has people who are driving that internally to make sure we’re staying up there with the latest government guidance on sustainability.

But it’s also driven by our customers. Because they’re being encouraged to use businesses that are environmentally aware and we can support them in achieving their green credentials.

IG: Going back to IFSEC, is there anything else you want to highlight?

SW: We will be showing a new ‘J’ handle often used on data racks and our electric lock range which is very relevant following recent events in Manchester and London as the electric lock can provide a more effective method of securing a building in a dynamic lockdown scenario and is fully compliant with BS EN 13637.

The reason electric locks can be very effective is that they always provide a mechanical means of escape but will self-lock even without power, unlike a magnet that once the power is cut the door is left insecure.

In terms of green credentials electric locks also only use power when operated whereas magnets use power constantly so electric locks deliver a significant reduction in the carbon footprint of a business.

We will also be demonstrating CLIQ Connect, which takes key control to another level.

The benefit of CLIQ Connect being that if a key is lost or stolen, it won’t open anything until it’s been activated by the owner of the key or via integration with a permit-to-work system. Which is ideal for handing to contractors and knowing that the contractor can’t access a site without prior authorisation, which is critical for managing health and safety as well as security benefits, especially for CNI [critical national infrastructure] sites.

IFSEC International takes place between 20-22 June 2017 at London ExCeL. You can find Abloy UK on stand C1560.